In Another World, Everyone Want to Kill Me!-Chapter 257: New Year in the Palace
News spread quickly through the palace: during the New Year’s Eve banquet that the Second Prince, Rong Zishen who had spent years campaigning on the battlefield would be returning.
It was said he had come back to choose a consort, though no one knew who would be fortunate enough.
By the time this news reached Yue Mingxuan, his health had begun to improve.
After trying several hundred different combinations of herbs, Gongsun Xing had finally found the right prescription to treat Yue Mingxuan’s condition.
After drinking the medicine continuously for quite some time, the bouts of drowsiness began to stop.
His complexion also grew noticeably rosier and he seemed far more energetic than before.
On this side of the palace, the spirits lifted as well partly because the New Year was approaching.
The customs for celebrating the New Year here were abundant and lively, completely different from the life he had known before in the army.
Back then, he had always been stationed with the troops where there was little sense of holiday atmosphere.
Being part of an elite unit meant frequent missions, so days passed in a blur; festivals and ordinary days felt no different.
Sui He was already happily busy making preparations.
The Department of Internal Affairs had long since delivered the clothing, supplies and food needed for the New Year.
The Emperor who is sympathetic to the fact that Yue Mingxuan had been ill for so long, sent an especially generous allotment along with many rare gifts.
Yue Mingxuan’s eyes curved into a delighted smile, though once his body recovered, he could not help but feel distressed over the money he had failed to earn during his illness and the thought gnawing at him restlessly.
As for Shang Qinghua and Gongsun Xing, they were much the same as usual.
Being grown men, they did not look forward to the New Year with particular excitement.
Yue Mingxuan on the other hand was like a child.
He keep telling Gongsun Xing that he absolutely had to give him a very large red envelope.
Gongsun Xing humored him as if indulging a child and agreed.
On New Year’s Day, Yue Mingxuan woke up early.
Listening to the sound of firecrackers outside, he stood in the snow while gazing beyond the city walls.
While he and Sui He were tidying things inside the room, Shang Qinghua arrived.
He was the first one to enter.
The moment he stepped through the doorway, Yue Mingxuan stretched out a feather duster to block him and said, "Red envelope!"
Shang Qinghua laughed. He then took out a small red cloth pouch from his sleeve and handed it over to him.
Yue Mingxuan beamed with delight and ran off while clutching tightly to it.
The palace banquet itself was rather dull.
If not for the Second Prince’s return requiring everyone to attend, Yue Mingxuan would much rather have stayed in his room with Sui He and passing the New Year quietly.
As it was, all the princes and princesses sat together, yet each of them spoke only among themselves, their voices so hushed that it was not enjoyable at all.
He propped his head on one hand as he sat there while occasionally chatting with Rong Qinglei on his left, or with Gongsun Xing on his right.
Shang Qinghua sat across from him while looking as composed and striking as ever.
The princesses and the daughters of various officials who are seated opposite him, kept stealing glances toward him.
Yue Mingxuan let out a quiet snort and thinking that people truly could not resist a handsome face.
Suddenly, a commotion rose outside and it was followed by a eunuch’s loud announcement.
"The Second Prince has arrived!"
Yue Mingxuan’s eyes lit up as he looked toward the entrance along with everyone else.
A crowd gathered like stars surrounding the moon and at the center stood a man clad in armor.
Yet Yue Mingxuan had heard that this Rong Zishen was arrogant and overbearing.
"Your son greets Father Emperor. May Father Emperor enjoy ten thousand years of health and peace."
With the festive atmosphere of the New Year, the Emperor was all smiles, he then quickly beckoning him to sit beside Concubine Keshun. "Your mother has been longing to see you for a long time. Go, keep her company."
"Yes."
The banquet began with music and dance, but Yue Mingxuan found it unbearably dull.
Taking advantage of the distraction, he slipped out quietly.
Outside was far more interesting than inside; though the hall glittered with splendor, it felt utterly lifeless.
He took Sui He by the hand and slipped into the imperial garden where plum blossoms filled the grounds.
He was not one for refined tastes and plum blossoms were simply flowers to him.
"Why did you slip out? If His Majesty notices, you’ll be punished."
A figure in dark robes stood before him.
Having grown used to his presence, Yue Mingxuan recognized at a glance that it was Shang Qinghua.
Over these past days, Shang Qinghua had cared for him every night.
Because Yue Mingxuan took antidote medicine, he would run a fever at night and Shang Qinghua had actually sat by the bedside and helped changing the cloth on his forehead again and again.
Yue Mingxuan suddenly smiled. "On a day like this, His Majesty won’t hold it against me. Besides, this is a family banquet, the important people are his consorts and children, not us."
Perhaps finding his reasoning is make sense, Shang Qinghua did not argue and simply stood there with him.
"Yue Mingxuan... do you still want to leave?" he asked.
"Of course. I can’t spend the rest of my life growing old in this deep palace," Yue Mingxuan replied.
His eyes shone brightly in the snowy night, like stars scattered across the sky.
From the first day of the New Year onward, the palace bustled with activity.
It was rare for the Emperor not to hold court and every consort hoped he would spend more time at her residence, so all manner of schemes and efforts emerged.
